Cury Hunt shows violent disregard for dogs

On 26 February, West Cornwall Hunt Saboteurs (WCHS) captured a video that shows once again the blatant disregard hunts have for their hounds. This time Holly Nicholls of the Cury Hunt can be seen striking a dog, while Martyn Toman is caught on camera inappropriately scruffing another hound.

Check out this video from WCHS:

Hunts often claim to care for their hounds deeply, but picking up dogs by the scruff of the neck, as seen in the above video is obviously wrong. This is a large dog, and being ‘scruffed’ is painful, abusive and dangerous.

No excuse for scruffing

Protect the Wild’s Charlotte Smith has a BSC in Animal Behaviour & Training, and also a Master’s degree in Animal Welfare, Science, Law & Ethics. Smith spotted the video from WCHS and was appalled, she told us:

“In situations such as helping a dog into a car, scruffing is harmful. More appropriate lifts would include gently lifting them while supporting their chest and hindquarters.  

For the safety and welfare of the dog, it is always best to use gentle, supportive handling and restraints that prioritises their physical and emotional needs.”

“Being lifted by the scruff can cause confusion, anxiety, and fear in adult dogs. This action can mimic dominance-based handling, which may damage the dog’s trust and sense of security. Repeated scruffing can lead to behavioral issues, such as increased nervousness, aggression or aversion to touch around the neck.”

“Unlike puppies, whose mothers carry them by the scruff in early development, adult dogs are heavier, and their bodies are not designed to be lifted this way. Scruffing can strain muscles, ligaments, and nerves, leading to pain, bruising, and even neck or spinal damage. 

Needlessly striking a dog

After Toman is seen scruffing the dog, Hunt photographer Nicholls can be seen bopping a dog on the head to get her to step back. There is clearly no need for this violence against the hound. WCHS wrote:

“Holly Nicholls, partner of Martyn Toman the one scruffing the very scared dog, she is also the hunt photographer. Caught on camera punching their own farm dog in the head “

Overall, the video graphically shows the disregard the two hunters have for the dogs. This isn’t surprising really, as the Cury Hunt has been involved in repeated breaches of wildlife protection legislation. This season alone, the Cury have been caught in the act by WCHS’ drone chasing a fox in breach of the Hunting Act 2004.

No surprise

This video taken by WCHS’ ‘eye in the sky’ on 13 November shows the Cury flushing out and chasing a fox on Cornwall’s Lizard peninsula. Luckily the fox seems to escape. The footage is shown at original speed first, and then slowed down from different angles so you can see what’s going on:

Road havoc

Sabs have also reported at least five incidents of the Cury Hunt causing havoc on the roads this season, two reported traffic offences and two occasions when police attended. These incidents show a shameful disregard for the safety of hounds. Kernow Sabs, Monitors and Animal Rights Team commented on their Facebook page on 10 January:

“Wow, not only were loose hounds on the little back road to Mullion but also on the fast main road to the Lizard! That section of road has several tight blind corners and it’s a miracle there wasn’t an accident!!! From the messages we had in it seems Cury were trying to round up their pack for at least 2 hours!”

Disregard for hounds’ safety

Driving hounds onto fast roads with blind corners is irresponsible. But in fact, hounds are regularly killed in these types of incidents. To name just a few examples:

• Three hounds from the Pytchley with Woodland Hunt were killed on 19 February 2024 when the hunt lost control of them. Police refused to take action.
• Two hounds were killed after being led onto the A30 in Devon by the Mid Devon Hunt on 30 September 2023.
• At least four Dunston Harriers hounds died on 31 October 2022 after the pack ran onto a railway line in Norfolk. Protect the Wild’s Eliza Egret wrote: “The dogs, which are used to chase hares, were struck by a high-speed Greater Anglia train on its way from Norwich to London. They were being exercised at the time.”
• On 29 November 2024 a Grove and Rufford Hunt (GRH) hound was hit and killed by a car on the A614. Egret wrote at the time: “The pack was out of control, forcing cars and lorries to come to a standstill.”

Hounds shot and discarded

It doesn’t stop there. When hounds have lived out their ‘usefulness’ to the hunt, they are casually disposed of. In 2021, the Beaufort Hunt was infamously caught on camera shooting several hounds, and disposing of their corpses in wheelbarrows.

In fact it’s estimated that hunts kill approximately 7,000 hounds every year. These deaths are unnecessary, and show the disdain that is evident in the way hunts treat all wildlife. Hounds have an average life expectancy of 14-16 years, but usually only live to five or six.

It’s high time that the government put an end to the facade of trail hunting, which is being used as a smokescreen for flagrant breaches of the Hunting Act. When it does, hunting hounds will need to be rehomed. Let’s make sure that happens soon, and that hounds are liberated from the life of abuse and objectification they live in now.

• Despite what hunts tell us, fox hounds can be rehomed! See Protect the Wild’s Rehome the Hounds campaign for proof.
• Follow West Cornwall Hunt Saboteurs here.
• bloodbusiness.info – The Cury Hunt regularly meets at Trelowarren Estate, which rents out “luxury self-catering cottages on a 1000-acre estate with modern dining and a spa in a walled garden”. Estate owner and host of the Hunt is “dedicated environmentalist Sir Ferrers Vyvyan, Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall” – a Trustee of the Eden Project…